In the world of competitive cycling, riders are always on the lookout for strategies that can give them an advantage. An energy deficit can certainly be one of those. At first glance, it may seem counterproductive for athletes who rely on high energy levels to perform at their peak. However, almost every competitive cyclist purposefully reduces their energy intake to achieve specific performance-related goals. In this series, we will take a look at both the benefits and drawbacks of going into an energy deficit in cycling.